Pass: 5,807 / 81.1% Yes votes ...... 1,355 / 18.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

In California, a city is either a general law or a charter city. A charter city is regulated by State law in matters of statewide significance and acts under its charter authority with respect to matters of local significance. The vast majority of cities in California are general law cities.

The Charter amendments before the voters at this November 6, 2007 election do not change the governmental structure of Redwood City. It remains a council-manager form of government with seven elected council members who appoint the city manager, city clerk and city attorney and various boards and commissions. Department heads and employees are appointed by the city manager. The proposed amendments are intended to make the terms of office for all Redwood City boards and commission member's four-year terms. Currently, members of the planning commission and library board serve three-year terms and the members of the port board serve five-year terms. If the proposed amendments are approved by the voters of Redwood City, the current terms of members of the planning commission, library board and port board would be unaffected. The proposed amendments include the following:

• Section 17 would be amended to allow planning commissioners to serve a four-year term of office.

• Section 18(d) would be amended to allow library board members to serve a four-year term of office.

• Section 47b would provide that port board members are to serve a four-year term of office.

Stan T. Yamamoto, City Attorney

An ad hoc committee of the City Council has identified several areas of the Charter for amendment in order to provide consistency and uniformity.

Sections 17, 19(d), and 47b of the Redwood City Charter set the terms of office for appointees to the City's Planning Commission, Library Board, and Board of Port Commissioners, respectively. Currently, the term of office for Planning Commissioners and Library Board members is three years. The term of office for members of the Board of Port Commissioners is five years. All other Redwood City boards, commissions, and committees have terms of office of four years.

The ad hoc committee recommends that the terms of office for Planning Commission, Library Board, and Board of Port Commissioners all be established as four-year terms. This change will make the terms of office for these three advisory bodies consistent with those of all other City boards and commissions. It will offer additional efficiencies during the recruitment, review, and appointment process for Redwood City boards, commissions, and committees.

This amendment will not change the existing terms of office for currently sitting members of the Planning Commission, Library Board, or Board of Port Commissioners. However, the new terms of office will come into effect for all subsequent appointees.

Changing the terms of office in this manner will place all boards, commissions, and committees on the same rotating schedule for recruitment and appointment, thus allowing for consolidation of administrative work, associated cost savings, higher efficiency, and consistency among all boards, commissions, and committees.

Please join with the City Council of Redwood City and VOTE YES on Measure "E".

/s/ Barbara Pierce August 1, 2007 Mayor, City of Redwood City

/s/ Rosanne Foust August 1, 2007 Vice Mayor, City of Redwood City